I like Terrell Edmunds and don’t mind him as a late day 2 pick... but if anyone can explain to me how he’s a better NFL SS than Shaquem Griffin, I would love to hear about it.

Two hands

Terrell is not as good with his two as Shaquem is with his one. Maybe Terrell’s second one gets in the way?

Seriously, though, I feel like everyone heard the kid has one hand, so they never bothered to watch him play.

I have and if he had 2 hands he would picked in the teens. Think about Shazier's interceptions and think how many of those Griffin would have made. At least he is abetter tackler than Shazier mainly because he has to be because of his missing hand.

But in the 3rd round I would take Griffin over Edmunds

_________________"Rational arguments don't usually work on religious people. Otherwise, there wouldn't be religious people." --Doris Egan

I agree B2B Griffin is a better prospect even with one less hand. I guess INT's aren't that important when you can run like your butt is on fire knocking down passes. No sarcasm intended. For the record I'd rather they drafted Reid or Bates III if they draft a safety that high.

_________________"Tomlin?? The guy is a massive fraud, hes no leader of men, hes an enabler of clowns." GreekSteel

1. DL Da’Ron Payne of Alabama – Interior defensive tackles, especially those not known for their ability to rush the passer, could slide in this draft because defensive coordinators are using sub-packages with extra defensive backs so often. The Steelers have been missing a dominant run-stopper along their defensive line since Casey Hampton retired. And based on the postseason comments of general manager Kevin Colbert and Art Rooney II, who called the run defense “soft,” the Steelers are serious about improving their run defense. Payne did not have many sacks in college and might not have big potential as a pass rusher, but he has enough athleticism that he can play in passing situations, too. The Steelers already have the full scouting report on Payne. They hired his position coach last month. New defensive line coach Karl Dunbar coached Payne for the past two seasons at Alabama. Payne has been compared to Ravens defensive tackle Brandon Williams. The Steelers know better than any team how difficult it is to run on the Ravens when Williams is on the field. The Ravens have figured out ways to play Williams more than just in their base defense. Williams played 71 percent of the defensive snaps in his one game against the Steelers last season. He played more than 50 percent of the defensive snaps in 10 of the 12 games he played in last season. The Steelers can find ways to get snaps for a dominant interior player as well. This would be a case of drafting the best available player and making him fit in your defense. As Colbert is fond of saying: “When you have red paint, paint the barn red.”

Also considered: DL Taven Bryan of Florida

2. ILB Darius Leonard of South Carolina State – Leonard isn’t mentioned among the top inside linebackers in the draft, but he does have traits that can make him a three-down linebacker in the NFL. Leonard played at the Football Championship Subdivision level of college football, but he was ultra-productive since his freshman season. Leonard isn’t big — he’s listed at 6 feet 2 and 213 pounds, but he could be the perfect candidate to learn behind Jon Bostic for a season before becoming a full-time player. Once Leonard adds a little more weight to his frame he can be an effective three-down linebacker in the league, with the athleticism to excel in pass coverage as well as a run-stopper. Leonard has been compared to Jacksonville linebacker Telvin Smith, an undersized inside linebacker who has developed into a premier player after being selected in the fifth round in 2014.

Also considered: ILB Malik Jefferson of Texas

3. RB Rashaad Penny of San Diego State – The Steelers need to find a reliable backup to Le’Veon Bell and someone to groom to take over as the starter if Bell leaves in free agency, likely after the coming season. Penny can learn on the job as a rookie and compete for the backup job with James Conner, who struggled to stay on the field as a rookie. With Conner trending toward being more of a backup than a future feature back, Penny gives the Steelers options if Bell isn’t on the team in 2019. Penny doesn’t have breakaway speed, but he runs hard and has the ability to make tacklers miss. He’d be a solid option for an offense that likely will be playing just one more season with Bell as the feature back.

Also considered: RB Akrum Wadley of Iowa

4. No pick

5a. (via San Francisco) WR Cedric Wilson of Boise State – The more I look at the depth chart at receiver, the more I think the Steelers will add someone to develop behind their three established players. There’s just not much behind Antonio Brown, JuJu Smith-Schuster and Martavis Bryant, and Bryant is entering the final year of his contract. The Steelers did not tender restricted free agent Eli Rogers, who is rehabbing a knee injury. After the top three, there is Darrius Heyward-Bey, who was almost strictly a special teams player last season, and a bunch of guys who were on the practice squad or recently signed to the offseason roster. In Wilson, the Steelers get a productive college receiver who is capable of playing in the slot or on the outside.

Also considered: WR Jester Weah of Pitt

5b. S Troy Apke of Penn State – With Burnett signed for three years at strong safety the Steelers don’t have to select a safety in the early rounds of the draft, but they do need to add depth to the position at some point. Apke was an off-the-radar prospect before being had an off-the-charts performance at the combine last month. Now he could be taken in the middle rounds because he has the athletic traits NFL teams covet. He’ll need time to develop, but he’s in a good spot for that. He can learn behind the veterans and contribute on special teams as a rookie.

Also considered: S Tre Flowers of Oklahoma State

6. No pick

7a. (via New York Giants) OLB Davin Bellamy of Georgia – The Steelers are set with starters Bud Dupree and T. J. Watt for at least one more season. It seems unlikely the Steelers will pick up the fifth-year option on Dupree, which means they’ll be in search of developmental prospects who can learn this season. Bellamy is a raw prospect and must add muscle and weight to his frame, but he could do that on the practice squad while Anthony Chickillo and Keion Adams hold down the backup jobs on the 53-man roster.

Also considered: ILB Mike McCray of Michigan

7b. OL David Bright of Stanford – The Steelers have to add another developmental lineman to the mix after Chris Hubbard signed with the Browns in free agency. Jerald Hawkins should slide into the swing tackle role that Hubbard occupied the past few years, but Bright can be the next project for assistant coach Mike Munchak, who has done wonders with overlooked prospects. Just take a look at the reserves on the line now. Hawkins was a fourth-round pick, and B.J. Finney and Matt Feiler were undrafted free agents. Bright, who played four of the five spots along the line for Stanford, can learn behind the veterans and add depth behind an experienced unit.

Apke is a waste. Did he show anything on tape or just at the combine. i would take Jefferson over Leonard in the 2nd and I do not like Jefferson. I will be gobsmacked if Penny drops to the Steeler's pick in the 3rd.

Seems like Fittipaldo was locked into positions

_________________"Rational arguments don't usually work on religious people. Otherwise, there wouldn't be religious people." --Doris Egan

Bellamy is a nice 7th rounder. Apke's tape maks it ludicrous to draft him at any point in the draft.

The reports on Leonard are that he already gained a bunch of weight to get to 213, and that he may be maxed out in terms of adding more good weight. The chances of him being an effective Mack ILB in a 3-4 at the NFL level are not good at that size. I don't like Jefferson or Leonard as fits for the Steelers.

As off-ball fits, I like LVE, Nwosu, Lorenzo Carter, Skai Moore, Frankie Luvu, Andre Smith, Genard Avery, Da'Sean Downey in that order. Maybe I bring Quentin Poling in as a UDFA, but he looks undersized to me. Nwosu-Carter-Luvu-Avery-Downey offer an appealing common trait: they can all play both edge and off-ball effectively. I'm thinking the whole NFL defensive mindset–and certainly the Steelers' mindset on D- has become about players playing multiple roles. You can be so specialized because offenses are not as predictable with personnel use.

I think we'll draft ILBs who can play run and coverage + probably some blitz skills, edge guys who can play off ball, SS who can play at 3 levels of the D, FS who has man CB skills, DL who can play multiple tech slots.

Not a fan of Payne or Leonard. I would be disappointed with them as the first 2 picks. Penny would be an absolute steal in the late 3rd RND. Overjoyed with that one. I think the David Bright pick is also too late in the draft. I think he goes before late 7th RND.

_________________"Tomlin?? The guy is a massive fraud, hes no leader of men, hes an enabler of clowns." GreekSteel

I think Penny might be the best runner in the class but I don’t think he’s a fit for a team with a top 5 QB and sophisticated passing game. Penny is a volume run/screen guy you pair with a QB you want to protect from overexposure. He should get drafted by Miami or TB and be very successful. He’s just not strong enough in the pass game to be a bell cow in PIT. I would seriously rather have Ballage or Warren or even Jaylen Samuels— not because they are better players but because they’d be better complements to what makes the Steelers offense and Ben more successful. I want no part of a volume run game with Ben and AB on my roster.

Let’s step into Kevin Colbert’s shoes and evaluate who might be on the board for the Steelers with their first three picks, especially given their current slate of needs.

Round 1, Pick 28

I’ll be pretty surprised if draft night rolls around and the Steelers don’t take a safety or a linebacker with this pick. I’ve narrowed their options down to four players that I believe are at the top of their current board, all of which carry some level of excitement.

Alabama linebacker Rashaan Evans is my top linebacker with a chance to be available at 28, and the Steelers had a full entourage at his pro day, typically a big indicator that the team has strong interest. Evans is explosive, physical and versatile, bringing pass rush experience off the edge and much-improved mental processing as a linebacker. He’s a little untested in coverage, but the athletic traits and ascending overall level of play are promising.

He’ll have to fend off Boise State linebacker Leighton Vander Esch for the Steelers’ affections, however, as the one-year starter is bigger, longer and perhaps a better athlete than even the highly mobile Evans. What Vander Esch doesn’t have is a really refined game from the neck up just yet, but considering his relative inexperience and tenacious work ethic, there is a lot of reason for optimism that his game will become more complete in time.

If the Steelers opt to go safety, Justin Reid from Stanford will likely be the top player on their board. If you examine the Steelers' recent draft tendencies under Colbert, especially in the first round, the team tends to target elite athletes with size, Power 5 pedigree, production, smarts and a clean slate off the field — all things that Reid brings to the table. He played mostly in the slot at Stanford, so single-high is a little projection, but I ultimately think he can be even better in that role at the next level.

Pittsburgh also showed a lot of interest in Wake Forest safety Jessie Bates at his pro day, taking him out to dinner and sending a large entourage to attend his workout. Bates is also a versatile safety who is aggressive against the run and makes a lot of instinctive plays in deep coverage. If Reid is off the board before Pittsburgh makes a selection, I wouldn’t be surprised to see them pull the trigger on Bates.

Round 2, Pick 60

The Steelers will begin keeping best player available in mind more and more as the draft progresses, but I still think safety or linebacker will be the priority here, depending on which position they addressed in the first round obviously.

Two linebackers I think they’ll consider in the second round (if they didn’t draft one in the first) are Fred Warner from BYU and Malik Jefferson from Texas. I actually have Warner ranked higher than Vander Esch and think he’s an elite cover linebacker who fits the Steelers from a size/athleticism/production standpoint. He’s also a mentally sharp, high character prospect, but will come with some projection given that BYU often used him as a big slot/overhang defender.

Jefferson is a player that scares me a good bit, as his effort and strong play seemed to come and go too often at Texas, but he also fits the size/athleticism/production tendency for Pittsburgh, as well as hailing from an established Power 5 school. He misses a ton of tackles, though, and is very inconsistent as a mental processor on the second level.

Another Texas product, safety DeShon Elliott, could be on the board for Pittsburgh in this range or in the third round, and there is also a chance Bates could still be available at 60. Don’t rule out a surprise like Penn State tight end Mike Gesicki, South Carolina tight end Hayden Hurst or even a wide receiver like Notre Dame’s E.Q. St. Brown in the second round.

Round 3, Pick 92

Things get wide open here for the Steelers, especially if they’ve already addressed the two big problem areas on their roster. An edge pass rusher could make some sense, but there won’t be many available in the third round that fit the Steelers' athletic profile if the board falls as expected. I don’t think they’ll focus on need as much as best player available in round three, so here are a few names that should intrigue the Steelers, depending on who they’ve already drafted.

South Carolina State linebacker Darius Leonard is a player the Steelers should know well given that they drafted his former teammate in Hargrave two years ago. Leonard is a big, rangy linebacker who needs some development, but he has flashed potential and coverage ability that would be welcomed in Ryan Shazier’s old role.

At tight end, Hurst’s balanced skill set will be attractive to Pittsburgh if he’s still on the board, and Indiana tight end Ian Thomas has been rumored to be a prospect that many teams believe has untapped athletic upside at the position.

Like it or not, Arizona State running back Kalen Ballage will undoubtedly be a player on the Steelers’ radar in the middle rounds despite his inconsistencies as a ball carrier. He's a big back with a versatile skill set and the ability to be a weapon in the passing game that could help ease the eventual loss of Bell down the road.

Of course, the draft can unfold in a myriad of different ways once things get rolling on April 26, and it’ll be Colbert’s task to adjust his process and snag a few players that can help the Steelers win right away. His defensive track record in the draft has brought back some mixed results, and if he can’t nail a couple picks in the first three rounds, the Steelers' window will start sliding shut quite rapidly due to their current weaknesses. http://www.profootballweekly.com/2018/0 ... k/ait2qu4/

Hmmm....

_________________"Tomlin?? The guy is a massive fraud, hes no leader of men, hes an enabler of clowns." GreekSteel

Really? I don't think he's very good vs the run, and he's stiff in coverage to me. I know some here really like him but I would, for instance, take Skai Moore over Warner in a heartbeat. I think Warner's a 5th or 6th round guy.

Rd 1- I have four targets right now Evans, Vander Esch, Reid, and Harrison. I'd be happy with any of them at this point.That said I'd go with S JUSTIN REID. He might be one of the most underrated guys as a Day 1 target. Great ball skills, can hit and his ceiling is seriously high. Addition of Burnett alongside of Davis will give Reid time to develop while helping early on.

Rd 2 - Could go alot of ways here depending on who slides ala JuJu last year, unplanned but perfect pick. For now I'd go with ILB DARIUS LEONARD. The guy plays sideline to sideline, is smart and athletic. Feel like he'd make quick impact, can stay on field for 3 downs with solid coverage ability. He won't last past end of 2nd, top of 3rd rounds. At this point his stock is rising and question is how high will he go. I love him in Rd 2.

Rd 3 - Edge JOSH SWEAT. I think questions on his knee will hold him into 3rd round but I really like this guy and think he's good to go from what I've read. Just a matter of will he be there in 3rd. Perfect guy to throw in mix on the Edge to push the competition.

Rd 5a - WR CEDRICK WILSON. Do it all receiver, solid size, great route runner, solid character who can help as returner and was High School QB. Perfect guy to push at #4 and can move up with development in case Bryant is gone after this year. May go a little earlier that this if team falls in love with him after combine.

Rd 5b - T JOSEPH NOTEBOOM. Perfect guy who with right coaching and strength work could turn into solid starter for years but for now the depth guy to compete to replace Hubbard.

Rd 7a - CB CHRISTIAN CAMPBELL Good size with good enough speed to throw into mix in the secondary.

Rd 7b - NT JOSHUA FRAZIER. Just my feeling they are going to target, space eater in the middle who pushes McCullers off roster. Frazier is likely 7 Rd or Priority UDFA, but I think someone drafts him late. Worth it in 7th.

_________________If I could live my life over, I'd be a football player, and you damn well better believe I'd be a Pittsburgh Steeler!

Like most draft experts, I wasted little time rehashing the Steelers 45-42 season-ending loss to the Jaguars in the divisional round of the playoffs at Heinz Field on January 14.

There's no time for that when your head is filled with thoughts of how to make a team better (at least on paper).

This desire to make Pittsburgh a more superior on-field product—one capable of competing each week—is what drives me every offseason—and this offseason was/is no exception.

However, the on-field product can't be improved until the work, the research, the analysis is done off the field, by people like me, the experts—the gurus, if you will.

What am I talking about? I'm talking about dissecting and analyzing those ever-promising draft prospects.

With the 2018 NFL Draft less than a month away, how will the Steelers get better? What areas of need/concern will they look to shore up first?

Unlike other draft experts, I don't just dive in right out of the gate with a mock draft—followed by another and then another and then another.

No, what I do is spend countless hours watching tape, studying film and crunching numbers.

I examine pad level. I view technique with an ultra-critical eye.

And with that in-mind, I would like to unveil my...

Official 2018 Steelers Mock Draft.

Round 1: (32nd, overall): Billy Price, center/guard, Ohio State

I realize the Steelers are supposed to have the 28th pick in the first round, but I have them moving down four spots for reasons I will get to later.

Let's talk about the pick. Why a center? It's simple: While Maurkice Pouncey may be a decorated center with a string of Pro Bowl appearances on his resume, fact is, he's not getting any younger. Pouncey will be 29 by the time he plays his next meaningful game, and with only two years left on a five-year contract he signed in 2014, it's time the Steelers groom his eventual replacement.

And with a player like Billy Price, one that, according to Walterfootball, is "an above-average athlete," who better to groom at a position that, as BTSC's own Shannon White has said, is one steeped in excellence?

It is true that Price tore a pectoral muscle at the Combine, but he'll certainly have plenty of time to heal as well as learn behind one of the greatest centers in team history.

Pittsburgh's rich tradition at center will continue on through Billy Price.

Round 2: (33rd, overall): Ike Boettger, offensive tackle, Iowa

I realize this is the Browns pick, but in my official 2018 Steelers Mock Draft, I have Cleveland moving up from the first pick of the second round to the 28th pick of the first round. The Browns have been stockpiling draft choices recently, and they will offer some valuable compensation to Pittsburgh in-order to gain yet another first round pick (more on that later).

Anyway, with Chris Hubbard signing a lucrative free agent deal with, ironically enough, the Browns, Pittsburgh is going to need a new utility tackle, one capable of playing both positions at the professional level. And at 6'5" and 307 pounds, Boettger has the kind of size scouts rarely find—but always covet—at the position.

Round 5 (148th, overall): Linnell Bonner, wide receiver, Houston

You're probably wondering why the Steelers, who didn't have a pick in the fourth round, also lost their original second round pick (60th, overall), along with their third round pick (91st, overall). To get something, you have to be willing to give something. And with Pittsburgh seeking a trading partner back into the first round after sending the 28th pick to the Browns in exchange for an extra draft choice (more on that later), the organization was going to have to pay a little more.

Thankfully, in my official—and final—2018 Steelers mock draft, the defending champion Eagles were a more than willing dance partner. And why wouldn't they be? After all, second and third round picks don't grow on trees, neither do promising second-year receivers such as JuJu Smith-Schuster, who I have Pittsburgh also sending to Philadelphia in exchange for its first round pick.

I realize Smith-Schuster, with 58 receptions for 917 yards and seven touchdowns in his first season, may have only skimmed the surface of what he's capable of, but you know who is capable of even more? Martavis Bryant, a Randy Moss-like mega-athlete that's just dripping with talent, talent that's been evident since his rookie year of 2014.

With only one year left on his rookie contract, 2018 will probably be the season Bryant truly breaks out, and Smith-Schuster, like Bryant, a number two receiver, would just make for a crowded position.

So why Bonner, if I'm so worried about the numbers at the receiver position? Because, at 6'0, 200 lbs, Bonner has the ideal size to play the slot role. With Eli Rogers likely not coming back next year, Bonner, a top-40 receiving prospect, would have a chance to start as a rookie.

Round 5 (165th, overall): Davon Grayson, wide receiver, ECU

Why another wide receiver, if I have Pittsburgh trading away its 2017 Rookie of the Year? The Steelers will need insurance in-case Bryant faces another suspension, and at 6'2, 187 pounds, Grayson has a similar body frame to the fifth-year man out of Clemson.

Round 6 (205, overall): Nick Wilson, running back, Arizona

You might be wondering why I have the Steelers settling for the Browns second of two sixth round picks as the compensation I've been teasing. I understand your concern, but with star running back Le'Veon Bell seeking a contract that averages $17 million a season, it just doesn't seem realistic that Pittsburgh will be able to pay that kind of money, plus afford the top sixth round pick.

Round 6 (206, overall): Richard Lagow, quarterback, Indiana

Knowing that Philadelphia has both Carson Wentz and Super Bowl LII-winning quarterback Nick Foles in the fold, it isn't hard to fathom the Steelers being able to make yet another trade with the Eagles, this time as a means to move back into the sixth round in-order to find their heir apparent franchise passer. How do I see this happening? Simple: Pittsburgh has two seventh round picks I'm guessing Philadelphia would find enticing.

Hefty price? Not if Lagow, who at 6'5", 240 pounds, is ultimately groomed into the next Big Ben Roethlisberger.

There you have it, now that I've put in the work and have told you my thoughts, I'm eager to read yours below.

I think it's about 95% certain that the Steelers: A. don't take Reid at 1.28 B. Have Jesse Bates higher on their board

That said, his board looks a lot more like mine than just about anyone else's I've seen.

I don't like the two undersized linemen in the 5th... and furthermore, I'm not sure OG is as big a need as a backup OL who can play multiple positions.

Taking CB in Rd 3... maybe. I guess. Good spot for a WR, maybe.

Malik Jefferson has some upside, but he's not ever going to be confused with Shazier. Jefferson's like Lawrence Timmons's doppelganger. Would that be better than what we rolled out last year? Absolutely.

Round 1, Pick 28: Leighton Vander Esch, ILB, Boise StateThe Steelers have been looking at Vander Esch and now they are reportedly having him for a pre-draft visit. He was a star of the combine and an inside linebacker with a lot of upside. If the Steelers pick him, he would probably start out on special teams and would then have to work himself into a starters role. He would probably then be the next to take over the mack linebacker position for the Steelers.

Round 2, Pick 28: Lorenzo Carter, OLB, GeorgiaI know Steeler fans don’t want another outside linebacker from Georgia after the Jarvis Jones flop, but I would strongly consider this pick in the second round. Lorenzo Carter was highly recruited out of high school and the reason they can get him in the second round is that he never turned the corner at Georgia. On the other hand, the Steelers would like to develop another outside linebacker as there is no guarantee that the Steelers will pick up Bud Dupree’s option.

Round 3, Pick 28: Terrell Edmunds, S, Virginia TechYou have to think the Steelers would take a look at Terrell Edmunds with his NFL bloodlines. His brother is potentially a top 10 pick in this draft. Edmunds has both the size and acceleration that teams want on their team. You have to think he will be able to start his career covering kicks on special teams. Maybe then he can develop into the Steelers free safety if they are not happy with Sean Davis.

Round 5, Pick 11: Allen Lazard, WR, Iowa StateThis pick can be used to find the replacement for Martavis Bryant after this year. Lazard may not have the upside that Martavis Bryant has, but Lazard is still a matchup nightmare at 6’5. He can win contested ball and that is something Ben Roethlisberger will like. I see Lazard starting the year on the inactive list and then maybe working himself into a player in the receiver rotation once he develops his route running. The Steelers will also like his speed which will help him gain separation. Lazard also returned punts at Iowa State so that is an option.

Round 5, Pick 28: Kallen Ballage, RB, Arizona StateThe Steelers can wait to get a contributor in the backfield. Although he may not start right away, I could see him working into the rotation if Bell leaves. I think Bell will probably play his last year on the Franchise Tag and then he will move on to another team. I don’t see how the Steelers could pay a running back with as much tread as he has on him, 17 million a year. That is Antonio Brown money that he wants and I don’t know the Steelers to be the type of team to get strong-armed into overpaying for a player.

Round 7, Pick 2: Coleman Shelton, C, WashingtonThis pick will be the heir to the Chris Hubbard role. Shelton will probably be able to start out as an inactive who can play the interior positions and then he could probably work himself into a role as a tackle as well. The Steelers like versatility in their backups on the offensive line and that is exactly what Shelton gives you. He probably will have to make the team as an emergency center, but if he gets cut, you can bet the Steelers will keep him on the practice squad.

Round 7, Pick 28: P.J. Hall, NT, Sam Houston StateHall is a small school player but he has a little bit of upside. The Steelers could draft him and have him compete with Dan McCullers for the last spot on the defensive line. If he plays like a small school player, he can be cut easily.

Round 1, Pick 28: Leighton Vander Esch, ILB, Boise StateThe Steelers have been looking at Vander Esch and now they are reportedly having him for a pre-draft visit. He was a star of the combine and an inside linebacker with a lot of upside. If the Steelers pick him, he would probably start out on special teams and would then have to work himself into a starters role. He would probably then be the next to take over the mack linebacker position for the Steelers.

Round 2, Pick 28: Lorenzo Carter, OLB, GeorgiaI know Steeler fans don’t want another outside linebacker from Georgia after the Jarvis Jones flop, but I would strongly consider this pick in the second round. Lorenzo Carter was highly recruited out of high school and the reason they can get him in the second round is that he never turned the corner at Georgia. On the other hand, the Steelers would like to develop another outside linebacker as there is no guarantee that the Steelers will pick up Bud Dupree’s option.

Round 3, Pick 28: Terrell Edmunds, S, Virginia TechYou have to think the Steelers would take a look at Terrell Edmunds with his NFL bloodlines. His brother is potentially a top 10 pick in this draft. Edmunds has both the size and acceleration that teams want on their team. You have to think he will be able to start his career covering kicks on special teams. Maybe then he can develop into the Steelers free safety if they are not happy with Sean Davis.

Round 5, Pick 11: Allen Lazard, WR, Iowa StateThis pick can be used to find the replacement for Martavis Bryant after this year. Lazard may not have the upside that Martavis Bryant has, but Lazard is still a matchup nightmare at 6’5. He can win contested ball and that is something Ben Roethlisberger will like. I see Lazard starting the year on the inactive list and then maybe working himself into a player in the receiver rotation once he develops his route running. The Steelers will also like his speed which will help him gain separation. Lazard also returned punts at Iowa State so that is an option.

Round 5, Pick 28: Kallen Ballage, RB, Arizona StateThe Steelers can wait to get a contributor in the backfield. Although he may not start right away, I could see him working into the rotation if Bell leaves. I think Bell will probably play his last year on the Franchise Tag and then he will move on to another team. I don’t see how the Steelers could pay a running back with as much tread as he has on him, 17 million a year. That is Antonio Brown money that he wants and I don’t know the Steelers to be the type of team to get strong-armed into overpaying for a player.

Round 7, Pick 2: Coleman Shelton, C, WashingtonThis pick will be the heir to the Chris Hubbard role. Shelton will probably be able to start out as an inactive who can play the interior positions and then he could probably work himself into a role as a tackle as well. The Steelers like versatility in their backups on the offensive line and that is exactly what Shelton gives you. He probably will have to make the team as an emergency center, but if he gets cut, you can bet the Steelers will keep him on the practice squad.

Round 7, Pick 28: P.J. Hall, NT, Sam Houston StateHall is a small school player but he has a little bit of upside. The Steelers could draft him and have him compete with Dan McCullers for the last spot on the defensive line. If he plays like a small school player, he can be cut easily.

In this mock this mocker has the Steelers trading up for Evans with Seattle. I don't necessarily like that idea. Not the trading..., the player. Why trade for a player that is likely there at 28. I assume if the Steelers trade up it's for someone that they absolutely covet and was expected to go much earlier and is in free fall. Perhaps an Edmunds, James, (LB) Chubb, Fitzpatrick.... Take a look.

Quote:

1. Browns — Josh Allen, QB, Wyoming: Yup, the latest buzz links Allen and his ballistic arm to Cleveland. But before you dismiss the notion, consider that new Browns GM John Dorsey traded up last year, when he was running the board in Kansas City, to select Patrick Mahomes, who, like Allen, probably had the biggest fastball and most upside — and risk — of any incoming passer. And even though arm strength remains a dubious trait when forecasting NFL success, it's definitely a nice attribute for quarterbacks who play in the AFC North's cold and windy climes. Like Mahomes, Allen would also reap the benefits of joining an up-and-coming roster while sitting behind a veteran, Tyrod Taylor in this case.

2. **PROPOSED TRADE** Bills (from Giants) — Sam Darnold, QB, USC: OK, let's have some fun. Buffalo didn't believe in Taylor and certainly didn't invest in AJ McCarron at a level that would suggest team brass believes he'll replicate his championship feats at Alabama. But with Darnold, widely regarded as the best overall quarterback in the draft, on the board in our scenario, GM Brandon Beane has to complete his systematic trek to the top of the board to get the long-awaited successor to Jim Kelly. But this won't come cheaply given the price the Jets already paid (three second rounders) just to move up three pegs. Giants GM Dave Gettleman could reasonably expect Beane to fork over the 12th and 22nd picks of this draft and next year's first rounder.

3. Jets (from Colts) — Josh Rosen, QB, UCLA: Had he not been born in 1943, Joe Namath might have been a Millennial right out of central casting. So don't expect GM Mike Maccagnan to flinch at taking Rosen — there's probably no rookie QB better equipped to step right into Gang Green's lineup — no matter how much former Bruins coach Jim Mora elaborates/equivocates about him.

4. Browns (from Texans) — Saquon Barkley, RB, Penn State: Dorsey will owe the football gods quite an offering if he winds up with the quarterback of his choice and Barkley, who's almost universally regarded as the draft's best player and perhaps the perfect guy — see Todd Gurley, Ezekiel Elliott, et al. — to relieve pressure on a sidekick like Allen.

6. Colts (from Jets) — Bradley Chubb, DE, North Carolina State: Though GM Chris Ballard surely remains open for business as he rebuilds the foundation around Andrew Luck, he'll be hard pressed to bypass a pass rusher (and relentless run stopper) of Chubb's caliber — especially since he's capable of closing out games and enabling Luck to hand off more.

7. **PROPOSED TRADE** Giants (from Buccaneers) — Quenton Nelson, G, Notre Dame: Gettleman strikes again. Using the 12th pick acquired from Buffalo as bait, he gets back on the horn with Bucs GM Jason Licht, who took DE Jason Pierre-Paul off his hands last month. Knowing he has to get in front of Chicago, which employs Nelson's former Fighting Irish O-line coach (Harry Hiestand), Gettleman could also send Licht a third rounder to flip from 12th to seventh. Why do it? Nelson may be the best player in the draft not named Saquon. He would help the Giants win now and later regardless of which quarterback he's protecting and will surely help revive a dormant ground game. All that aside, Gettleman's mancrushes are reserved for his beloved "Hog Mollies."

8. Bears — Minkah Fitzpatrick, DB, Alabama: They spent free agency putting new pieces around QB Mitchell Trubisky and would surely like to count Nelson as part of that effort. Barring that, there's probably not another offensive player on GM Ryan Pace's top-10 radar. But Fitzpatrick would enhance a defense charged with combating slot receivers like Randall Cobb, Golden Tate and Stefon Diggs. Fitzpatrick could eventually settle into a safety combo with former 'Bama teammate Eddie Jackson if Adrian Amos moves on in free agency next year.

9. 49ers — Derwin James, S, Florida State: The Niners have been busy building a Seattle-style defense laden with former Seahawks, including CB Richard Sherman and Super Bowl XLVIII MVP Malcolm Smith. James isn't exactly Earl Thomas or Kam Chancellor but is a special player whose makeup is a combination of skills that include some of the best attributes of Seattle's star safety tandem.

10. **PROPOSED TRADE** Cardinals (from Raiders) — Baker Mayfield, QB, Oklahoma: Maybe Arizona won't have to go that far for its long-term answer under center. We've got GM Steve Keim sending a third- and fifth-round pick to Oakland in order to swap their Round 1 slots and jump the Cards ahead of Miami, which has been widely linked to Mayfield. The fiery Heisman Trophy winner has every intention of playing right away and given his ability — and fellow Sooner Sam Bradford's lengthy medical chart — it might very well be Mayfield feeding Larry Fitzgerald and David Johnson under the capable tutelage of OC Mike McCoy.

11. Dolphins — Roquan Smith, LB, Georgia: Miami's defense was merely average with Ndamukong Suh, which speaks volumes. Last year's linebackers didn't prove very effective despite the benefit of lining up behind Suh and the double teams he commanded. Hence, a strong case to be made for a guy like Smith, who's far more capable of making plays on his own while bringing a nice streak of leadership.

12. **PROPOSED TRADE** Buccaneers (from Bengals via Bills and Giants) — Mike Hughes, CB, Central Florida: Tampa Bay doesn't have to drop far (or look beyond state lines) to snag a player who can further remedy the NFL's worst defense in 2017 while also adding juice to the Bucs' return game.

13. Redskins — Vita Vea, DT, Washington: No team gave up more rushing yards last year than the 'Skins. Vea's 6-4, 347-pound frame alone will obstruct running lanes, but he's also uniquely mobile for a man his size and has shown the ability to bag quarterbacks, too.

14. **PROPOSED TRADE** Chargers (from Packers) — Tremaine Edmunds, LB, Virginia Tech: Bolts GM Tom Telesco admits needing more from his linebackers. It's probably worth surrendering a fourth-round pick in order to leapfrog the Raiders for Edmunds, 19, who already packs 253 pounds onto his 6-5 frame. Yet his size doesn't appear to impede his range, and that could bolster the AFC's worst run defense, which is sometimes left vulnerable up the middle when Joey Bosa and Melvin Ingram are roaring around the edges.

15. **PROPOSED TRADE** Raiders (from Cardinals) — Da'Ron Payne, DT, Alabama: Jon Gruden would probably like another toy for his offense, but the smart play is putting more talent around Khalil Mack and a defense that ranked 23rd.

16. Ravens — Marcus Davenport, DE, Texas-San Antonio: Outgoing GM Ozzie Newsome's final first-round pick might be best spent on a player who could ultimately supplant Terrell Suggs, who remains Baltimore's best pass rusher at age 35. Davenport would benefit from Suggs' wisdom and on-field presence before the seven-time Pro Bowl selection winds down.

17. **PROPOSED TRADE** Packers (from Chargers) — Calvin Ridley, WR, Alabama: Jordy Nelson is gone, and Randall Cobb might be in a year. Ridley effectively mixes the skills of both, ready to run polished routes now and able to provide the deep speed lost with Nelson's departure.

18. **PROPOSED TRADE** Steelers (from Seahawks) — Rashaan Evans, LB, Alabama: Pittsburgh's defense — and Super Bowl aspirations — fell apart last season after LB Ryan Shazier was lost in Week 13. Pittsburgh GM Kevin Colbert probably can't wait for Evans, whose abilities largely mirror Shazier's, and would likely have to part with a third rounder and additional sweetener to get Seattle to drop 10 slots. But the championship window for Ben Roethlisberger, Antonio Brown and others may close soon, and this is the kind of bold move that could secure a record seventh Lombardi Trophy.

19. Cowboys — DJ Moore, WR, Maryland: WRs Dez Bryant and Allen Hurns and TE Jason Witten are all nice weapons but essentially classify as rebounders. Moore is an explosive asset who could take this offense to another level.

20. **PROPOSED TRADE** Patriots (from Lions) — Harold Landry, OLB, Boston College: New England suddenly has a fair amount of holes yet also an ample supply of mid-round picks to move up. Why not deal with old buddies Bob Quinn and Matt Patricia, who have a lot of work to do in order to remain relevant in the NFC North? New England's inability to get a key defensive stop was on full display in Super Bowl LII. Landry might be the answer to the question that's lingered since Chandler Jones was offloaded two years ago.

22. **PROPOSED TRADE** Giants (from Chiefs via Bills) — Taven Bryan, DT, Florida: Much of the focus in New York has been on offensive deficiencies, however the defense could also look appreciably different under new coordinator James Bettcher. Bryan is another talented big man likely to intrigue Gettleman and could project as a three- or five-technique depending on the front. And with the 2019 first rounder we gave Gettleman in the Buffalo deal, he remains well equipped to make a run at a quarterback next year if Eli Manning disintegrates.

23. Patriots (from Rams) — Mike McGlinchey, OT, Notre Dame: Though WRs Danny Amendola and now Cooks are gone, it's far more important to prioritize a bouncer for Tom Brady, who's spent nearly every snap of his career capably protected by Matt Light and new New York Giant Nate Solder.

24. Panthers — Christian Kirk, WR, Texas A&M: Carolina is installing a new offense under veteran coordinator Norv Turner. But despite the presence of scatback Christian McCaffrey, TE Greg Olsen and WRs Devin Funchess and Torrey Smith, there's definitely immediate and long-term room for a player like Kirk, who can operate outside when not capably manning the slot. He could also take over return duties now that McCaffrey has become the lead back.

25. Titans — Leighton Vander Esch, LB, Boise State: At 6-4 and 256 pounds, he's built almost exactly like new Tennessee head coach Mike Vrabel, an extremely versatile player during his 14-year NFL career. Vrabel could be the perfect sculptor for Vander Esch, who could give this defense a boost whether he's lining up inside or on the edge.

26. Falcons — Will Hernandez, G, Texas-El Paso: Atlanta's roster has very few holes. But Hernandez would represent a marked improvement without being a reach in the first round.

27. Saints — Harrison Phillips, DT, Stanford: There's a reason New Orleans wanted Suh. Phillips doesn't have Suh's gifts — certainly no knock on him — but his motor never stops, and his combination of strength and techniques refined as a three-time state wrestling champion in Nebraska would make him a formidable presence between Cam Jordan and Sheldon Rankins.

28. **PROPOSED TRADE** Seahawks (from Steelers) — Joshua Jackson, CB, Iowa: Seattle GM John Schneider likes to work the board and historically moves down, an approach which makes even more sense as he reloads the roster this year. At 6 feet and 196 pounds with exceptional ball skills, Jackson is almost a football clone of Sherman, who is slightly taller.

29. *PROPOSED TRADE** Dolphins (from Jaguars) — Lamar Jackson, QB, Louisville: Ryan Tannehill's problematic knee casts further doubt on a career that seemed to be maxing out at adequate before he initially went down in 2016. Jackson has significantly more upside, and Adam Gase, who's worked with all flavors of quarterback, could be the guy to maximize his highly intriguing potential. It makes sense to trade back into the first round in order to get the prized fifth-year contract option, especially with a quarterback. Meanwhile, Jacksonville could ask for an additional third rounder while taking Miami's Round 2 selection (42nd overall).

30. Vikings — Jaire Alexander, CB, Louisville: Mike Zimmer co-signed the massive free agent gamble on QB Kirk Cousins. Probably wise to now get him one of the corners he values so deeply, especially if Terence Newman doesn't come back or finally breaks down once he turns 40.

31. *PROPOSED TRADE** Lions (from Patriots) — Sony Michel, RB, Georgia: The Alvin Kamara comparison he seems to invite is apt and would greatly enhance an offense that's gotten little capability or reliability from its backs. Michel and LeGarrette Blount would be a potent tandem.